Eclectic Technology

September 8th is International Literacy Day and a number of infographics are available (simply by searching). This infographic was published by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and it looks at the rate of literacy across the globe by gender and age (adult being defined as >15), where they live, who will be illiterate in the future, what the future holds for them and raises the question "How can we change their destiny?"

Why share this infographic? Would it help our students to know that there are many people in the world who do not have access to school, to the ability to become literate, and to know that due to that their lives will have limitations simply due to this fact? Part of being a citizen today is raising awareness in our students of what happens beyond their school, their home town, the US and what is happening across the world. We celebrate literacy with our children. Perhaps we can also make them aware that others do not share this opportunity and consider what we might do to help them.